It's strange they use the MP4 file wrapper for the XDCAM HD codec which is based on MPEG-2 Long GOP compression. More interesting is that it shoots 1080/50/60i, 1080/24,25,30P, 720/60/50/30/25/24P. So it's basically NTSC and PAL compatible like the HVR-Z1.Looks like Sony is upping the ante and with the new interchangeable lens HDV 3x 1/3" camera, they are pushing to fight the RED One's impending dominance in the under $50k camera market.Interesting times ahead. Although it will be anyone shooting this camera will have to bring along a RAID disk array for backup.

Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."

"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 08 September 2007 - 09:13 AM

I love that they are talking of a 32gig card, now, that would be practical for uw shooters. Ooops, orgasm time.
Steve B)

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Actually memory based media is more impractical for the travelling shooter. One has to have 2 big hdd to backup the files. With 16GB, you get at least 60mins of XDCAM HD at 35mpbs VBR. With 2 it's 120 mins. Unless it's saturation diving, I don't see how more recording time is needed. Let's say one does shoot 32GB of data a day... after 14 days, one would need 448GB of hdd X 2. It's not a godsend by any means.

Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."

"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.

The only downsides I can see are the sold state media and the problems of storing it while traveling which has already been mentioned, the size of the dam thing if you want to remain reasonably compact and what kind of editing system spec and what editing software would support the footage captured at maximum quality? I can see a lot of upgrades around the corner!

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 09 September 2007 - 09:38 AM

Actually memory based media is more impractical for the travelling shooter. One has to have 2 big hdd to backup the files. With 16GB, you get at least 60mins of XDCAM HD at 35mpbs VBR. With 2 it's 120 mins. Unless it's saturation diving, I don't see how more recording time is needed. Let's say one does shoot 32GB of data a day... after 14 days, one would need 448GB of hdd X 2. It's not a godsend by any means.

Drew....that's why we carry portable external hard drives, they are small and hold a good amount. Its still better than a tape based system Steve B)

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Unfortunately it will takes at least 3-6 six month for smaller manufacturers, and 6-10 months for the biggers.

I am still hesitating between the V1 and this. I would buy it, however, I will go for shooting in next March to Wakatobi, and without a housing... Maybe an Ewa-marine...

Given a choice between a V1 in a proper housing with good optics and using a plastic bag with cheap glass, I would choose the housing anytime. At Wakatobi, you'll need excellent macro optics anyhow. There are rarely any pelagics and if the viz is bad, WA is dead.

Drew....that's why we carry portable external hard drives, they are small and hold a good amount. Its still better than a tape based system Steve B)

I had the HVX200 and I love the P2 workflow. I carried 3x 3.5' 500GB hdd for backup for the P2 files. The largest 2.5" is 250GB now. Would you trust that 1 drive holding the info will not fail? So you'll need 2 and so 250GB will get you 8 days of data. So for extended trips, you need to use two 3.5" hdd. 1 TB 3.5" drives are easily available now. For production shoots, it's a no brainer. For the hobbyist, then it's another story. I'm just reminding people out there to look at the logistics of the filebased cameras vs tape based.

Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."

"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 10 September 2007 - 08:44 AM

Drew,
Headed back to Lembeh this Xmas to do a fam at 3 different places. Question for you regarding Wakatobi.
Though I've never been there, every year at Dema we are offered fams to go there prior to bringing guests. I've never taken them up on the offer because I hear nothing but terrible things about the 'Nazi' type diving they expouse. Grounding you from diving if you even lay on the sand to shoot something, everyone following in a line and things of that nature. How true is all that?
Steve B)

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Interests:Filming and documentary production. Beach and surf photography. Family time, isolated beaches and walking the dog.

Posted 10 September 2007 - 03:56 PM

For shooting / storage issues I think that by the time this camera is ready for underwater use, mid '08 by most opinions here, that you'll be looking at much greater card capacities. That said the dumping to HDD's will still obviously be an option. For those with deeper pockets take a shoe box of cards with you on shoots and dump it all when you get home. HDD's in the field have been known to crap out because of vibration and shock during transportation etc.

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 10 September 2007 - 04:21 PM

Mark, I know its an obvious answer but for anything electronic, it is another thing to carry on board with you. Wouldn't send a hard drive in checked luggage any more than I would send my camcorder. It kills me enough just to check in a housing.
Steve B)

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Interests:Filming and documentary production. Beach and surf photography. Family time, isolated beaches and walking the dog.

Posted 10 September 2007 - 04:38 PM

I hear ya Steve, but as airlines tighten the lid for carry on there will eventually come a time when we will be required to put our beloved HDD cams or storage units into our checked luggage. Leaving Palau soon I have 2.5TB of LaCie 7200rpm HDD's full of stock, two Maxtor 260GB 3600rpm drives full of admin and data etc, then there's the Gates Z1 Housing and Camera which as a bare bones unit I normally take as carry on.....which out of that lot would you want to check in? Somethings gotta give, I'm not walking that lot through. I'll end up with legs more bowed that John Wayne!!

Thanks to Mr Peter Mooney of ScubaPix for providing Wetpixel with the schematics of the PMW-EX1, we can now see what the actual dimensions of the camera are. The same schematics have been provided to the big housing manufacturers already:EX_with_hood_and_battery_.pdf278.86KB198 downloads
The most interesting aspect of this camera is the separate remote control for the lens, which will allow great control of transition shots.